Review Date
May 3, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: ktran714 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Awsome scenic trail. NOT FOR BEGINNERS. Most technical trail I've been on. Lots of rocks and drops.

Review Date
March 3, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: adambabcock ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This is an especially fun trail during rains, as the creek swells pretty fast and the trail gets muddy. On the way down, there are many shortcuts or offshoots that all lead back to the trail. Every 5th or so time on the trail I take a little while to do some trail maintenance, you should too.

Recommended Route:
Start at the bottom of the trail and ride up it. Everybody passing me on the way down says it's too hard to ride up the trail, but I think it is much more satisfying to get to the top the hard way (instead of taking the fire road)

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Stough Canyon at Burbank Nature Center

Review Date
February 13, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Jamis XLT 2 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Nice little single track. I just got into mountain biking about 2 weeks ago. This is my first time riding El Perito. I used to fish in this area though. Don't let these reviews discourage a beginner from doing this single track. Like I said I just got into mountain biking and this trail was a lot of fun. Not as technical as everybody says. Just go enjoy yourself. You will have a blast. I on the other hand liked the creek crossing.

Review Date
January 18, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Labikrglen ,  Downhiller

Summary:
awesome downhill trail. lots of exposed rocks. my hardtail kills me down the single track. Sometimes i ride my dads titus, much better. the uphill is gradual and very enjoyable. but again, the single track is pretty technical and there are usually some pretty extreme people flying down so be careful not to get in their way.

Review Date
November 10, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: DtEW ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
El Prieto is a medium-level technical singletrack. Its strengths are that it is 1) easily accessible, 2) is a good mix of various technical riding disciplines, and 3) is completely shaded. Its weaknesses are that it is 1) busy with two-way traffic, especially hikers coming uphill; 2) often encroached upon by poison oak; and 3) is not as long as I would like, by itself or as part of the Brown Mtn Road/El Prieto loop. I'm sure some people would want to do this trail on rigid fixies, but most of you will probably have more fun on a trailbike or all-mountain bike.

People have cut various bootleg routes (not even good bootleg routes) through this trail, but the proper one to take is defined by this sequence:

1) Bear right at the second creek crossing.
2) After the steep boulder garden which puts you in the creek, keep right.
3) Take the switchback above the picnic table.
4) Take the high road along the cliff rather than the low road through two creek crossings.

And contrary to "countmordor", the trail is not "a ball of ugly mud". That guys is obviously on crack.

Recommended Route:
Once you have followed HotBox's direction to find the parking area, a short loop can be had as thus: 1) Ride north from the parking lot to the gated road. Go around the gate and head north up the Arroyo Seco (FS 11W14)for about 1.2 miles on asphalt. 2) You should come upon a fire hydrant defining a fork to the right. Go right and stay on the road, which turns quickly into the fireroad known as Brown Mtn Road (FS 2N66). 3) Climb 2-3 miles on Brown Mtn Road. This fireroad takes you up 1100 vertical feet. You will likely encounter all sorts of riders, from downhill hucksters to speedy racers-in-training. Beware of downhill traffic. 4) You will arrive at a saddle defined by the junction of three fireroads. It is a popular spot for riders to 'hang' before they head off whichever way. 5) Head east (downhill) onto FS 2N65 for ~0.7 miles. Pay attention to the right and you will find a sign to a singletrack marked "El Prieto". 6) El Prieto exits back at the base of Brown Mtn Road.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Redbox-to-Switzer-to-Lower-Gabrielino-to-Arroyo-Seco